Commission for Backward Classes Gets Cabinet Nod

New Delhi: The union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved setting up of a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NCSEBC) and giving it Constitutional status. A Bill will be introduced in Parliament soon.

The relevant amendment to the Constitution will be made by inserting a new article 338B. The amendment will not only lead to the creation of the NCSEBC but also need Parliamentary approval for inclusion and exclusion from the central List of Other Backward Classes. A new Clause (26C) under Article 366 of the Constitution will define the term ‘Socially and Educationally Backward Classes’.

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which was established in 1993 will be stand abolished. The NCBC was set up to examine the claims of any class of citizens as a backward class for the purpose of inclusion in the Central list drawn up by the Commission. Its advice was considered to be binding on the government.

There have been demands in Parliament to grant constitutional status to the NCBC to enable it to hear the grievances of OBCs in the same manner that a Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was constituted.